During the month of May, The Lucca Grill has invited our young expressionists at the RTC to be their artists of the month! The upstairs dining area will be graced by original works of art from our youth's art therapy series titled, "Art Speaks." Art therapy is very effective with children who have difficulty sharing their feelings in words. In honor of Saint Zita of Lucca on her feast day, owner Chuck Williams is donating 15% of this past year's art sales to support art therapy at The Baby Fold. He is even having a reception for our young "artists in residence" and their staff.
Come have a meal at Lucca's and enjoy the artwork in May!

If you'd like to give to support the work of The Baby Fold,
click here.
 

During this past winter, the children at the Residential Treatment Center (RTC) experienced a form of therapy that is beyond the routine. Drums, guitars, bells, tone bars, and simulated rain sounds filled the air. Thanks to a generous donation from music enthusiast and owner of Twice Upon a String, Kymber Diekhoff, music therapy groups were made possible through the partnership with a local organization, Developing Melodies. The children engaged in exploring the sounds and feel of the instruments, identifying and expressing feelings in the music, and even writing their own songs.

RTC staff members recall one of their favorite memories from the first 6 weeks of sessions. Janel Metzger, Board Certified Music Therapist, invited the children to listen to Louis Armstrong's, "What a Wonderful World." Then they adapted the lyrics to sing about what is wonderful in their lives. James sang about his favorite Residential Treatment Specialist in every line of the song! With guitar accompaniment by Janel, this boy's performance made quite an impression on everyone. His peers giggled and began singing about their favorite staff members, until James concluded, "And I think to myself...what a wonderful world!"

To those who work with children who are trying to overcome the challenges in their lives, James' performance was a testament to the staff members who commit their hearts and expertise every day. In more than just words, this boy expressed his experience of "felt safety," a term used in trauma treatment to describe the most important need that must be addressed before all others. For some children and youth, living in the RTC is the first time they have been able to feel safe- on the outside and inside. Through positive relationships made here and creative therapies such as these, kids can develop a more positive and healthy outlook.

Kymber Diekhoff plans to continue donating 20% of the profits from her business to provide another 6 weeks of sessions with Developing Melodies. During a time when services for Mental Health and Residential Treatment struggle to secure adequate funding, we are so grateful for community support to sustain programs such as these. On behalf of the RTC, THANK YOU Kymber, for being a part of our Wonderful World!
 

If you would like to help sustain Music Therapy and other needs at The Baby Fold, please click here.
 

The Baby Fold is pleased to welcome Pat Grogg PhD., Professor Emerita, Management, Illinois State University to our Development and Public Relations team. Dr. Grogg will serve as our interim Vice President of Development. She is a past president of our board of directors (1999-2000), and the current chair of the "Lighting the Path of Promise" endowment campaign for The Baby Fold's Healthy Start program. Pat is a gifted and experienced organizational leader. She will assist with the search for a permanent VP, but in the meantime, The Baby Fold is blessed to have her serve in this important role.
Pat would love to get to know you personally. If you would like to schedule a visit, please feel free to contact her by email.
pgrogg@thebabyfold.org

Aimee Beam has also joined The Baby Fold staff as our Major Gifts Officer. Combining a passion for fundraising with a love for children, Aimee has spent the last two years successfully building the first-ever development department for the Child Protection Network. Aimee has a long history of quality work in marketing, sales, and public relations. With a degree in Economics and a minor in Speech Communication and Business Administration from Illinois State University, Aimee added to her professional development at Indiana University's  Lilly School of Philanthropy, studying principles and techniques in fundraising and best practices for developing major gifts. We believe that Aimee's work will benefit our children and families today and provide a better life for those in our future as well.
Aimee's favorite thing to do is meet people! If you'd like to reach her about a gift to The Baby Fold, please email abeam@thebabyfold.org

The Baby Fold is thrilled to report that we received a $6,000 grant renewal from the Illinois Prairie Community Foundation's            Women to Women Giving Circle for advanced training for our Healthy Start program. Our caring staff who train new parents how to be their child's first teacher, will have the tools they need to help moms and babies get off to a healthy start.

To learn more about how we are helping to break the cycle of abuse, click here to our Healthy Start webpage.